11 Perks Of Winning The Masters

When you become a Major champion, lots of doors open.

However, the perks of winning The Masters, and the extras that come with pulling on the Green Jacket, are truly something else. 

From coming back each and every year to hosting your own Champions Dinner, here are some of the amazing things that come with winning the annual Augusta National showpiece...

Perks Of Winning The Masters

1. The Masters Trophy

The Masters Trophy, which depicts the Augusta National clubhouse, is easily one of the coolest pieces of silverware in the sport. The winner gets their own sterling silver replica to keep.

The actual trophy, which the winner sadly doesn't get to take home, was made in England and is made of more than 900 separate pieces of silver. The winner does get their name engraved on it, though.

2. A Gold Medal

The medal is 3.4 inches in diameter and features a view of the clubhouse from behind the Founders Circle - the iconic view from Magnolia Lane we've all seen countless times.

So, if you win the Masters, you receive a silver trophy, a gold medal and, should you make an eagle, a bit of crystal - and that's before you get your prize money.

3. A Big Winner's Check

The prize fund for The Masters is ever-increasing so the winner's check continues to rise year after year. This year's Masters prize money payout is a whopping $20m. The winner's cut is a huge $3.6m - up from $3.24m in 2023.

In terms of elite level golf, $3.6m isn't the highest first-place checks, with PGA Tour Signature Events offering $3.6m-$4m to their winners and all LIV Golf tournament wins giving $4m.

Still, it's huge money and a nice bonus for the Masters winner, although they will barely notice it hit their bank account with the huge money floating about the game right now.

4. The Green Jacket

Of course, the winner gets to pull on the coveted Green Jacket itself.

With millions in the bank, the Masters champion can afford to go on a shopping spree, but no amount of money can buy you this item of clothing - a custom fit, members-and-winners only green jacket.

The Green Jacket was first awarded in 1949, when Sam Snead won his first Masters. The champion gets to keep it for their first year before returning it to the club in the following year's tournament. The iconic garment is then kept at the club, where the owner can wear it during future Masters tournament weeks as well as whenever they happen to be on-site.

"Essentially, it's the only trophy you can't really keep at home," 2023 Masters champion Jon Rahm said.

"You do get a trophy, but the one that we all care about is the jacket. I think it's something really special to know, when you win, that the only jacket that ever leaves Augusta National is that one. I think that's the most special part of all."

If you win multiple Masters titles, you don't win more Green Jackets - once you win, your Green Jacket is your only, and very special, Green Jacket for life.

5. Joining The Masters Club

When you're a Masters winner, you get to set the menu the following year for the Champions Dinner.

The Champions Dinner, also known as 'The Masters Club', takes place every Tuesday evening of Masters week and features past champions, whether they're playing in the tournament or not, and club chairman Fred Ridley.

Each year, the defending champion selects the food, and drink, and acts as host for the evening.

"I think that's something you can't put a price on, some of the greatest players of all-time who have played this tournament through their whole career and experienced a lot of things, and they're telling stories from their eyes and what happened is quite unique," Rahm said of his 2024 dinner

6. A Golden locket

An extra perk related to the Masters Club is that the new member receives an inscribed gold locket in the form of the Augusta National Golf Club emblem as certificate of their membership in the Masters Club.

Ben Crenshaw, the 1995 Masters champion, acts as host of the Champions Dinner and it is he who gives out the locket to the defending champion. 

“It’s a pendant that is supposed to go to your wife," Crenshaw told Golf.com, with his wife saying she wears hers on her necklace every April. Very cool.

7. A Special Invite

We're not talking about television invites, although you'll certainly get those too. No, the Green Jacket winner receives an invitation to attend The Masters every year after that. They get to be reunited with their Green Jacket every year, attend the Champions Dinner and reminisce of their famous win(s).

It's why we've still been able to watch the likes of Fred Couples, Jose Maria Olazabal and Bernhard Langer roll back the years at Augusta over recent times.

Augusta is a course that takes many players years to fully understand, and that's why some of the past champions can still make the cut despite losing length. They know where not to hit it.

8. Exemptions

Winning The Masters sets you up nicely, both in the short term and further down the line.

As well as a lifetime of Masters starts, the winner gets a five-year exemption into the PGA Championship, US Open and Open Championship.

They also gain PGA Tour membership for five years as well as a coveted spot at the Sentry in Hawaii the following January.

9. Honorary Membership

Not only do you receive a lifetime exemption into the tournament, you are welcomed into the club as an honorary member. That doesn't mean you're an 'official member', but basically if you win The Masters you can essentially play Augusta National any time you like for the rest of your life.

10. A spot in the champion's locker room

The Champion's Locker Room is just that, an exclusive locker room where only Masters champions have access. 

The winner gets a locker to use during their time at the club, while all other Masters competitors are in the player's locker room.

Each locker in this fabled corner of the clubhouse features a plaque engraved with the champion's name and the year, or years, that they won The Masters. The room is located on the second floor of the clubhouse and features a veranda that overlooks Magnolia Lane and Founders Circle.

11. Points

The Masters champion, just like all Major winners, receives 100 Official World Golf Ranking points. They also earn 600 FedEx Cup points.

100 world ranking points is a huge number. The Players Championship, the next best, gives 80 while PGA Tour Signature Events give around 65-69.

How much does second place get at The Masters?

While nobody wants to finish second at The Masters, it still does a lot for your career.

The runner-up money is a huge $2.16m and the second-place player receives a very healthy 50 Official World Golf Ranking points too - which is more than regular PGA Tour events and around double what a regular DP World Tour event offers.